WTH BWB February 20th, 2026
Greetings!
February 16, 2026
I hope all is well for all of you and yours out there in “Bliggity Blog Land.”
I’m happy to let you know that after my fall over a month ago, I am walking a LOT more with a pair of canes, (which was how I have been walking for years) and Robin, my beloved brought in my rollator/walker and I’m able to get down the other end of the house to use my home office.
Retirement is still feeling a bit weird. Giving up my real estate license after 21 years in the business was a good decision but the concept of “retirement” has always made me nervous. Why? Well, growing up I saw a number of people, mostly men who retired and then like an old clock, just wound down and stopped, or in the worst case, dropped dead.
I think what challenges a lot of veterans (I’m not a veteran) is coming back home after working in a good paying job that requires highly specialized skills and retiring or just being discharged, is it can be hard to find anything in civilian life that pays as well and is mentally challenging.
I’m glad I have Welcome To Housing Home Goods Bank, Inc. as something to do as I’m retired.
Tomorrow, Parker K. Bailey Moving and Storage is bringing up a bunch of beds, including Kings and Queens from The Bar Harbor Inn. I was joyfully surprised when I was first contacted by the Inn and was thinking to myself, logistically, how will we get them to Old Town? Turns out the Inn was willing to cover the transport, and I mentioned several moving companies we already work with. Originally Martin Somers, a newer volunteer and trustee was going to bring up some men from Wellspring, but they were unable due to another commitment.
Martin is wonderful to have on board and so is Lisa Maxcy as in addition to being smart and pleasant to work with, they’re both very focused and motivated to get involved.
The opposite of that is pretty much what I’ve become when it comes to my volunteering on the Membership Committee of the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce. I haven’t been there to a meeting of the committee in person and rarely get to BRCC events anymore due to my mobility issues, even before my hard fall. I’ve become dangerously close to becoming what I call a “Doughnut Eater.” What’s that? It’s someone that shows up but does not get involved but rather to consume treats like doughnuts if they’re provided.
February 19, 2026
Greetings!
I am sitting in at the bi-weekly meeting of Penobscot County Cares and thankfully I have a 2nd monitor so I can multitask. I’m walking a LOT more. The impetus for starting over was when one night the office chair got fetched up in the bedroom doorway. I turned green like David Banner and like Lou Ferrigno, growled and got my fanny perpendicular.
I electronically signed the first couple of documents for the solar power company to notify Versant Power that we’re “going solar” this spring. 24 panels split between the main building and the back part which people refer to as the barn.
The latest search is for an oxygen concentrator unit for a man with no insurance. The woman who contacted me, works at Eastern Maine Medical Center. The man who needs one, has no insurance and can’t be released from the hospital until they locate one.
I left off typing at “concentrator unit” when the Penobscot County Cares meeting ended. Been watching news, etc. since then.
I was messaging on Facebook with a wonderful friend, who I have yet to meet in person. Her name’s Sarah and she founded Community Closet 207 in Ellsworth.
She typed in Messenger, “Will this help? Pic coming.” What appeared was a photo of an oxygen concentrator. Several months ago, a dear friend of hers passed away. I remember the posts and felt bad for her. It’s always fascinating how things can work out, like something belonging to someone who’s passed can be given to someone ese who can really use it.
February 20, 2026
Today I had a virtual meeting with two of the leaders of the Golden Key International Honour Society at the University of Maine and their advisor. The group plans to come out and help with the warehouse again in late March.
They’re also interested in doing an event that could challenge other UMaine groups to participate. We’re in hopes of developing the Pajama-Rama event.
I will never get over how fortunate we are to be located in Old Town and have the connection with the University of Maine.
I will head out for this week. I hope everyone out there in “Blogland” has a great couple of weeks.
Sincerely yours,
Christopher Olsen
Founder and Board of Trustees President
welcometohousing@gmail.com
(207) 745-1287
